Detecting sprocket segment wear based on machine drivetrain data

Abstract

A controller may receive, from a sensor device of a machine, machine drivetrain data indicating a load, on a drivetrain of the machine, over a period of time. The controller may detect, based on the machine drivetrain data, one or more occurrences of a decrease in the load during the period of time. The controller may determine that the one or more occurrences, of the decrease in the load, are unexpected. The controller may detect wear of a component of an undercarriage of the machine based on determining that the one or more occurrences, of the decrease in the load, are unexpected. The controller may cause an action to be performed based on determining the wear of the component.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A machine, comprising:
 a drivetrain; 
 an undercarriage including track links and one or more components associated with the drivetrain; 
 a sensor device configured to generate machine drivetrain data indicating a load on the drivetrain over a period of time; and 
 a controller configured to:
 detect, based on the machine drivetrain data, one or more occurrences of a decrease in the load during the period of time; 
 determine that the one or more occurrences, of the decrease in the load, are unexpected; 
 detect wear of the one or more components of the undercarriage based on determining that the one or more occurrences, of the decrease in the load, are unexpected; and 
 cause an action to be performed based on detecting the wear of the one or more components. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more operator controls configured to generate operator controls data associated with controlling an operation of the machine, and 
 wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine that the operator controls data was not generated during the period of time; and 
 determine that the one or more occurrences of the decrease in the load are unexpected based on determining that the operator controls data was not generated during the period of time. 
 
 
     
     
       3. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor device is a first sensor device,
 wherein the machine further comprises:
 a second sensor device configured to generate machine velocity data indicating a velocity of the machine over the period of time, and 
 
 wherein the controller is further configured to:
 detect, based on the machine velocity data, one or more occurrences of an increase in the velocity during the period of time; 
 determine that the one or more occurrences, of the increase in the velocity, are unexpected; and 
 detect the wear of the one or more components of the undercarriage further based on determining that the one or more occurrences, of the increase in the velocity, are unexpected. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more occurrences during the period of time are one or more first occurrences during a first period of time, and
 wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine that a first quantity of the one or more first occurrences, during the first period of time, exceeds a second quantity of one or more second occurrences, of the decrease in the load, during a second period of time that precedes the first period of time; and 
 detect the wear of the one or more components of the undercarriage based on determining that the first quantity exceeds the second quantity. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more components of the undercarriage comprise one or more sprocket segments of a sprocket of the undercarriage. 
     
     
       6. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the controller, to detect the wear of the one or more components of the undercarriage, is configured to:
 detect a first amount of wear of the one or more components based on a first quantity of the one or more occurrences during the period of time; and 
 detect a second amount of wear of the one or more components based on a second quantity of the one or more occurrence during the period of time,
 wherein the second quantity exceeds the first quantity, and 
 wherein the second amount of wear exceeds the first amount of wear. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the controller, to cause the action to be performed, is configured to at least one of:
 provide, to a device associated with the machine, a notification that the wear of the one or more components has been detected; 
 cause an operation of the machine to be adjusted based on detecting of the wear of the one or more components; 
 cause the one or more components to be serviced; or 
 cause the one or more components to be replaced. 
 
     
     
       8. A method performed by a controller, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a sensor device of a machine, machine drivetrain data indicating a load, on a drivetrain of the machine, over a period of time; 
 detecting, based on the machine drivetrain data, one or more occurrences of a decrease in the load during the period of time; 
 determining that the one or more occurrences, of the decrease in the load, are unexpected; 
 detecting wear of a component of an undercarriage of the machine based on determining that the one or more occurrences, of the decrease in the load, are unexpected; and 
 causing an action to be performed based on determining the wear of the component. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein detecting the one or more occurrences comprises:
 detecting the one or more occurrences of the decrease in the load during a time interval of a period of time, and 
 
       wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving operator controls data regarding steering commands associated with operating the machine during the period of time; 
 determining, based on the operator controls data, that a steering command was not detected during the time interval of the period of time; and 
 determining that the one or more occurrences, of the decrease in the load, are unexpected based on determining that a steering command was not detected during the period of time. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein detecting the one or more occurrences comprises:
 detecting the one or more occurrences of the decrease in the load during a time interval of the period of time, and 
 
       wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving operator controls data regarding gear changes associated with operating the machine during the period of time; 
 determining, based on the operator controls data, that a gear change was detected during the time interval of the period of time; and 
 determining that the one or more occurrences, of the decrease in the load, are unexpected based on determining that a gear change was detected during the portion of the period of time. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein detecting the wear of the component comprises:
 detecting wear of a sprocket of the undercarriage. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , wherein causing the action to be performed comprises at least one of:
 providing, to a device associated with the machine, a notification indicating that the wear of the component has been detected; 
 causing an adjustment of an operation of the machine to prevent additional wear of the component; 
 providing an instruction to adjust the operation of the machine; or 
 providing a service request to at least one of repair or replace the component. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor device is a first sensor device,
 wherein detecting the one or more occurrences comprises:
 detecting the one or more occurrences of the decrease in the load during a time interval of the period of time, and 
 
 wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving, from a second sensor device of the machine, machine velocity data indicating a velocity of the machine over the period of time; 
 detecting, based on the machine velocity data, one or more occurrences of an increase in the velocity during the time interval of the period of time; 
 determining that the one or more occurrences, of the increase in the velocity, are unexpected; and 
 wherein detecting the wear of the component comprises detecting the wear of the component further based on determining that the one or more occurrences, of the increase in the velocity, are unexpected. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , wherein causing the action to be performed comprises:
 determining that a quantity of the one or more occurrences satisfies a quantity threshold; and 
 causing the action to be performed based on determining that the quantity of the one or more occurrences satisfies the quantity threshold. 
 
     
     
       15. A system, comprising:
 a sensor device configured to generate machine drivetrain data indicating a load on a drivetrain, of a machine, over a period of time; and 
 a controller configured to:
 detect, based on the machine drivetrain data, one or more occurrences of a decrease in the load during the period of time; 
 determine that the one or more occurrences, of the decrease in the load, are unexpected; 
 detect wear of a component of an undercarriage of the machine based on determining that the one or more occurrences, of the decrease in the load, are unexpected; and 
 cause an action to be performed based on detecting the wear of the component. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller, to detect the wear of the component, is configured to:
 detect wear of a sprocket of the undercarriage. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller, to cause the action to be performed, is configured to at least one of:
 provide, to a device associated with the machine, a notification that the wear of the component has been detected; 
 cause an operation of the machine to be adjusted based on detecting of the wear of the component; 
 cause the component to be serviced; or 
 cause the component to be replaced. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller, to detect the wear of the component, is configured to:
 detect a first amount of wear of the component based on a first quantity of the one or more occurrences; and 
 detect a second amount of wear of the component based on a second quantity of the one or more occurrences,
 wherein the second quantity that exceeds the first quantity, 
 wherein the second amount of wear exceeds the first amount of wear. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller, to cause the action to be performed, is configured to:
 determine that a quantity of the one or more occurrences satisfies a quantity threshold; and 
 cause the action to be performed based on determining that the quantity of the one or more occurrences satisfies the quantity threshold. 
 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more occurrences are detected during the period of time, and
 wherein the controller is further configured to:
 receive, from one or more operator controls, operator controls data associated with controlling an operation of the machine, 
 determine that the operator controls data was not generated during the period of time, and 
 determine that the one or more occurrences, of the decrease in the load, are unexpected based on determining that the operator controls data was not generated during the period of time.